Continuity and evolution in construction know-how from 4th to the 9th centuries A.D.

Spanish historical research is experiencing a phase of critical reconsideration of Islamic culture and its contribution to the formation of Medieval tradition. The period from the 8th to the 12th century, studied through Arabic documentation as well as architectural heritage, shows the strong cultural link between two branches of a single family, the Omayyad, first as Caliphs of Damascus and then as Emirs in Cordoba. At the same time, however, we can note the difference between analyses of Spanish architectural heritage, which are methodically updated, and the meager and “out-of-date” studies dedicated to generically Middle Eastern buildings, the best examples of which continue to be Creswell’s valuable volumes. Modern-day Syria, Jordan, Palestine-Israel and Lebanon (once “Greater Syria,” Bilấd al-Shấm) is teeming with archaeological sites that have been maintained incredibly intact even above ground level, with complex but quite readable stratigraphies, which are therefore analyzable, without the need for excavations. The construction scenario of many Jordanian architectural complexes certainly shows a continuity of use, but also reveals transformations in construction techniques between the 3rd and 4th-5th centuries A.D., (this facilitates analysis), and later adapted by the Ghassanids and Omayyads. The slow evolution of construction systems (the wall structures, the system of construction and apertures, the system of roofing of spaces, the tools used in finishing, etc.) can easily be shown over the long period between the end of the 3rd and the middle of the 7th centuries, with periods of increased construction activity and others of conservation of existing structures. The advent of Islam in the 7th century and the Omayyad family’s rise to power brought with it a significant intensification of construction activities in the region. The convergence of diversified workmen, who brought “new” materials such as bricks or gypsum-based mortar, led to the development of new forms of apertures, such as the pointed arch, and new ways of constructing vaulted roofs. Recording precisely and accurately the characteristics of walls and more complex construction systems, so as to construct a chrono-typological sequence valid for geologically similar areas. In this case, the Building Archaeology proves to obtain information directly from buildings that can contribute to an understanding of their construction history. In every individual case, the Building Archaeology, by offering observations that are to a great extent new for the Jordanian situation, can help to increase the possibility of precisely determining the periods of construction and transformation of built structures, and can create tools that can be applied to a much broader panorama of individual architectural complexes to be analyzed. The sites reveals a complex stratigraphy. Such complexity is not an obstacle to understanding of a building, but rather is the interpretation tool most suited to the purposes of our project. In fact, in Jordan, where many sites have surprisingly well-conserved standing structures, stratigraphic reading and the creation of typologies linked to the construction sphere can provide excellent results in terms of our knowledge of the buildings. Relative chronologies can be utilized for better comprehension of the region’s construction history, opening up new perspectives for a re-reading of its architectural complexes and the surrounding landscapes. Characterizing a wall structure and defining different construction techniques can be an extremely productive path to take. The availability of new digital instruments for photogrammetric three-dimensional recording of standing structures and individual constructed pieces, along with the creation of an easily consultable online database, facilitates our work and makes it immediately utilizable for a typological comparison with architecture from Spain and other cultural contexts.